A record of 8% of households with minor children in the United States are headed by a single father, up from just over 6% in 1960.

The number of single father households has increased about ninefold since 1960, from less than 300,000 to more than 2.6 million in 2011. In comparison, the number of single mother households increased more than fourfold during that time period, up to 8.6 million in 2011, from 1.9 million in 1960.

As a result, men make up a growing share of single parent householders. In 1060, about 14& of single parent households were headed by fathers, today almost 24% are.

There are significant difference between single mothers and single fathers. Single fathers are more likely to be living with a cohabiting partner (re-marry/have a girlfriend).

Cohabiting single fathers are particularly disadvantaged on most socio economic indicators. They are younger, less educated and more likely to be living in poverty.

Single fathers, on average have higher incomes than single mothers and are far less likely to be living at or bellow the poverty line. Single Fathers are also somewhat less educated than single mothers, older & more likely to be Caucasian.